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Business cards can have a lasting impact on the people you meet if they are well designed and speak clearly about you and your company. They are another way of Getting your name out there, and help new contacts to instantly connect with you.
Here are some suggestions on how to design a business card that could serve as an effective sales and marketing tool as well:
- Create an interesting design for your card - business people get so many, so be different!
- Don't stint on quality - people notice the weight and texture, and flimsy cards may communicate a lack of effort
- Use the back of your card, for a customer quote, as a voucher, a calendar or a product sheet
- Use full colour, if possible tailored to the type of business you represent and your target audience
- Make sure the font isn't too small
- Publicise any company awards, i.e. 'Winner of.....'
- Look for inexpensive card deals - many are available, particularly if you search the web
Digital card scanners
When it comes to other collecting other people's cards, do you stick them in the bottom of a draw or carefully record the information for future use? You might like to consider a digital business card scanner, which will scan a card and turn the writing into digital text.
They vary in price from inexpensive (around £30) to costly (more than £200), and tend to plug into the USB port of your computer, scanning business cards in a matter of seconds, and keeping an organised list of contact data. (Prices sourced from PC Advisor, June 2008).
They should also work with your desktop and mobile computer or PDA, exporting contact information in a range of data formats.
Microsoft Outlook
Or you might prefer to input the information from a business card straight into a contact program such as Microsoft Outlook, which will allow you to categorise your contacts. Another benefit of using Outlook is that you can make a note of any business meetings and other relevant business contact information, which will facilitate your relationships in the future.
Business software like Outlook is also useful for synchronising your contact information with a portable device, such as a PDA, smartphone or BlackBerry.
Digital business cards
If you are constantly accessing digital contact data, why not use a digital business card yourself? Also known as vCards, these can be transferred to your contact's PDA via Bluetooth, or emailed to a customer. vCards can contain name and address information, phone numbers, URLs, logos, photographs, and even audio clips.
Social networking
More and more business people are staying in contact via business networking sites, such as LinkedIn, Ecademy, Ryze, XING, Plaxo and even Facebook. These allow members to build up online contact books that can be synchronised with their computers, and they can also display their own details on a home page.
The business social networking sites have some elements in common with the humble business card, but once you start to explore them, you soon realise they take contact management to a whole new level.
Related information:
Business networking - we've told you how to network online, but nothing can beat regular face to face meetings.
Improving your sales techniques - prepare a great pitch, answer questions effectively and how to follow up to close the deal.
Business applications - find out which types of software are best for your business, whether you work alone or run a larger office.
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